Why Xiaomi’s smartphone is loading in Recovery Mode and what to do about it
You turned on Xiaomi Redmi, POCO or Mi, and instead of the usual lock screen, you saw a black background with English words Reboot system now, Apply update from ADB and others? This means that the device has loaded into Recovery Mode, a special environment for diagnosing and restoring the system, which is a situation that scares many users, especially if it occurred by accident.
The reasons for getting into Recovery Menu on Xiaomi can be different, from accidentally pressing a combination of buttons to serious firmware failures. In 80% of cases, the problem is solved by standard methods without losing data, but it is important to act carefully. In this article, we will discuss all the working ways to exit the recovery on different Xiaomi models, including Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11 and others, and explain what to do if standard methods do not work.
Before you start, remember that if you haven’t manipulated the firmware or unlocked the bootloader, the chance of getting your phone back to normal without resetting data is 95%.
Method 1: Standard System Reboot
The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in reboot option, which works 90% of the time if the cause of the Recovery hit was an accidental button press or a temporary crash.
Instructions:
- 📱 On the Recovery Mode screen with Volume buttons Up/Down) Please select the Reboot system now.
- ✅ Press the power button to confirm the choice.
- ⏳ Wait for the reboot (can take up to 2-3 minutes).
If you reboot your phone and it gets back into Recovery, it means that the problem is deeper, maybe the system is damaged or the updates conflict, so move on to the next way.
⚠️ Note: If after selecting Reboot system now, the device hangs on the logo MI longer than 5 minutes, don't force it to turn it off. Give the system up to 10 minutes to recover.
Method 2: Forced reboot through hardware buttons
If the touch screen is unresponsive or the Recovery menu is frozen, you can try hardware reboot, which works even on fully frozen devices, but requires precise consistency.
How to do this:
- Press the power button and hold it for 10-15 seconds until the screen goes out.
- Release the button and wait 30 seconds – the phone should automatically turn on in normal mode.
- If the screen remains black, press and hold the power button again until the MI logo appears.
Some models (such as the Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO F4) may require a combination of buttons: Power + Volume Up. Hold them together for 10-12 seconds until the device vibrates and starts to reboot.
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If the phone is forced to reboot, check to see if the Volume Up button is clamped, sometimes sticking to moisture or mechanical damage, which automatically loads it into recovery mode.
| Xiaomi model | Combination for forced reboot | Retention time |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 9/10/11 | Power or Power + Volume Up | 10-15 sec. |
| POCO X3/X4/X5 | Power + Volume Down | 12-15 sec. |
| Mi 11/12/13 | Power (hold until vibrating) | 8-10 sec. |
| Black Shark 4/5 | Power + Volume Up + Volume Down | 10 seconds. |
Method 3: Exit through ADB (for advanced users)
If standard methods don’t help, and the Apply update from ADB is displayed on the screen, you can try to exit Recovery using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires a computer and minimal command line knowledge.
What you need:
- 💻 A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB Tools.
- 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
- 🔧 Included debugging by USB (if previously activated).
Step-by-step:
- Connect your phone to your computer via USB.
- Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the adb folder.
- Type in the command: adb devices If the device is determined, move to the next step. If not, check the drivers or cable.
- Run the reboot command: adb reboot
If the adb reboot command doesn’t work, try an alternative:
adb shell reboot -p⚠️ Attention: Use ADB On devices with a blocked bootloader, it can cause a data reset. If you are not sure about the status of the bootloader, you better skip this method and move on to the next one.
What if the ADB can’t see the device?
Method 4: Reset to factory settings (Hard Reset)
If previous methods didn’t work, it’s likely that the problem is caused by corrupting system files, in which case a full Hard Reset will help, but keep in mind that all data on the phone will be deleted.
How to make a reset through Recovery:
- 🔄 From the Recovery menu, select Wipe data (or Wipe & Reset on new versions). MIUI).
- 🗃️ Then select Wipe All Data and confirm the action.
- ⏳ Wait for the process to be completed (may take 5-10 minutes).
- 🔁 After reset, select Reboot system now.
On some models (POCO F3, Redmi K40) the path may be different: Wipe Data → Format Data → confirmation.
Once reset, the phone will turn on as new, you will need to reconfigure it, including your Mi Account account, and if you forget your account details, restore them in advance on account.xiaomi.com, or you risk getting your device locked.
Backup important data (if the phone is turned on)
Remember the username and password from Mi Account
Connect your phone to charge (the battery must be at least 50% charged)
Make sure that SIM-card and memory card removed (optional)
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Method 5: Fastboot Flashing (extreme case)
If none of these methods worked, and the phone still loads into Recovery or hangs on the logo, the last option is Fastboot flashing, a radical method that will bring the device back to life, but will require a computer and proprietary software from Xiaomi.
What you need:
- 🖥️ Computer with installed Mi Flash Tool.
- 📄 Official firmware for your model (download at xiaomifirmwareupdater.com).
- 🔌 Cable USB (necessarily original!).
Step-by-step:
- Turn off the phone (hold the power for 15 seconds).
- Press Power + Volume Down to enter Fastboot mode (a hare in a hat-eared hat will appear on the screen).
- Connect the device to your computer and start the Mi Flash Tool.
- Select the downloaded firmware (file with the extension.tgz or.zip).
- Press Refresh, then Flash and wait for completion (10-20 minutes).
Once you flash it, the phone automatically restarts. It can take up to 15 minutes to start up the first one, which is normal.
⚠️ Note: Fastboot Flash-through deletes all data, including files in internal memory. If your phone had important photos or documents, try retrieving them first with specialized utilities (such as Dr.Fone or Tenorshare UltData).
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Fastboot flashing is the only way to bring Xiaomi back to life with a damaged bootloader or “brick” firmware, but this method requires an unlocked bootloader or official firmware for your model.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When working with Recovery Mode on Xiaomi, users often make mistakes that exacerbate the problem, and here are the most common ones and ways to prevent them:
- 🔋 Battery discharge during manipulations: If the phone runs out during reset or firmware, it can lead to complete loss of performance.Always check the charge level (at least 50%) before starting the action.
- 🔄 Interrupting the firmware process. If you start flashing through Fastboot, never turn off the cable or restart the computer. It can turn the phone into a brick".
- 📱 Use of informal firmware. Installation of custom ROM Without unlocking the bootloader or checking compatibility often leads to a boot cycle in Recovery.
- 🔑 The forgotten Mi Account. Once the settings are reset, the phone will require data from the Xiaomi account that was previously tied.
Another common mistake is the confusion between Recovery and Fastboot modes. In Recovery Mode, you control the menu with volume and power buttons, and in Fastboot, the screen is black with white labeling and a picture of a rabbit. The methods of exiting these modes are different, so first determine what mode your Xiaomi is in.
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If after reset, the phone asks for a password from Mi Account, but you do not remember it, try to restore access through account.xiaomi.com. If the account is not restored, contact Xiaomi with proof of ownership of the device (check, box).